The tour begins in Matera, at a hotel in the heart of the Sassi, largely carved out of the soft tufa stone. Meet with local architect for talk on political and social factors that led to the abandonment and later, restoration and occupation of the Sassi area, which has been a Unesco World Heritage site since 1993. Guided walk through the building and illustration of the restoration process of these complex buildings. Time for Q and A.
The tour continues walking through the historic centre of town to the organic rationalist Cinema Duni (Ettore Stella, 1949). Then on to the main square, Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the XVIII century Convent of the Annunziata, currently the public library (restoration Renato Lamacchia, 1998).
The walk continues to the site of a former mill Piazza Mulino, now residential and shopping complex (Carlo Aymonino, 1990) and on through the baroque Via Ridola, arriving at Palazzo Lanfranchi, ex-seminary and currently the Museum of Modern and Medieval Art of Basilicata.
Light lunch is served at a slow-food deli followed by a visit to Palazzo Lanfranchi with its’ amazing Carlo Levi collection. Time to see the running exhibition and cloister. Short break in Piazzetta Pascoli with it’s breathtaking view of the Sasso Caveoso district. The tour continues with a visit to the rock church complex Convicinio di Sant’Antonio. Return to hotel and free time. Guided evening walk through the Sassi down to a Boutique Hotel for an ‘active’ meal where guests participate in the preparation of dinner. On the menu: local peasant dishes with wild vegetables, pulses stews and a pignata (a local mutton stew), all accompanied by the highly acclaimed Aglianico del Vulture wine. Return to hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the Borgo La Martella (Ludovico Quaroni, 1953) residential quarter about 5km from Matera built for families forced out of the Sassi (law n. 619/52). Visit to the Church of San Vincenzo de Paoli adorned with modernist ceramics by Andrea Cascella and portal by Floriano Bodini and of the Borgo (or neighbourhood).
Departure for San Giovanni Rotondo with a stop at a local farm house for light lunch. Visit to the New Church of Saint Pio (Renzo Piano, 2004) with a capacity of 6 500 people inside and up to 30 000 outside. Noteworthy artists like Domenico Palladino, Giuliano Vangi and Arnaldo Pomodoro made interesting artistic contributions to the inside and outside of the building.
In the late afternoon departure for Taranto and evening visit to the recently restored Concattedrale (Giò Ponti, 1970), the last work completed by the Milanese Architect.
Fish dinner in the historic centre of Taranto and return to Matera passing by the panoramic point of the Murgia Timone to view the spectacular scene of the Sassi by night.

Breakfast buffet at hotel, free morning and departure